Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Impressive stats not enough
Richardson denied spot on All-Defensive teams by voters
MIAMI — Josh Richardson’s formal recognition as an elite defender will have to wait at least one more year.
Even with Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra subtly lobbying for the recognition for his forward, Richardson failed to make the cut when the NBA on Wednesday announced its All-Defensive teams, placing 16th in the voting, the lone Heat player receiving votes.
Despite reaching combined steal and blocked shot totals unmatched by any other player, Richardson was not among the 10 selections cited by a media panel of 100 voters. He reacted to the news by posting a pair of emojis on Twitter, one representing a shrug and the other representing covering his face.
Selected to the All-Defensive first team were Utah’s Rudy Gobert, Philadelphia’s Robert Covington, Indiana’s Victor Oladipo, as well as Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday from New Orleans.
Selected to the All-Defensive second team were Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Golden State’s Draymond Green, Boston’s Al Horford, San Antonio’s Dejounte Murray and Minnesota’s Jimmy Butler.
Despite receiving three first-team votes, Richardson also finished in the balloting behind Houston’s Chris Paul, Oklahoma City’s Paul George, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Golden State’s Kevin Du-
rant and Golden State’s Klay Thompson. The third-year Heat forward nonetheless finished ahead of such respected defensive players as Danny Green, Luc Mbah a Moute, Avery Bradley and LeBron James.
Spoelstra frequently cited Richardson as deserving All-Defensive recognition over the second half of this past season.
“Well that’s been his calling card since he came in. That’s what our scouting department and Chet Kammerer liked about him,” Spoelstra said last month of the Heat’s scouting work in advance of selecting Richardson out of Tennessee in the second round in 2015. “I think they projected him to be able to have this kind of potential. And on that side of the floor, I think he’s AllNBA defense. He is, night in and night out.”
Richardson closed the season as the lone NBA player with at least 121 steals and 75 blocked shots.
“He’s become a very disciplined, dynamic defender, one that can really take on multiple positions. But in a totally different way,” Spoelstra said. “He will challenge Dwyane [Wade] in terms of a shot-blocking two-guard if he is fortunate enough to play that many years down the line.
“He’s going to rack up a lot of blocks, a lot of steals. And, as we call ‘em, ‘one-onone kills.’ He’s a superb defender and his offense has been growing exponentially with the opportunities this year.”
The Heat last had an AllDefensive selection in 2016, when Hassan Whiteside was named to the second team. Whiteside did not receive any votes in this year’s balloting.
The lack of inclusion on Wednesday’s teams left the Heat with six players on AllDefensive teams over their 30 seasons.
Alonzo Mourning and LeBron James have been the team’s only first-team selections, Mourning in 1999 and 2000, with James in 2011, ‘12 and ‘13.
The Heat eight times have had representatives on the second team, P.J. Brown in 1997 and ‘99, Bruce Bowen in 2001, Wade in 2005, ‘09 and ‘10, James in ‘14 and Whiteside in ‘16.
The only Heat player to be named Defensive Player of the Year was Alonzo Mourning in 1999 and 2000. The NBA will announce the winner of that honor and the rest of the league’s individual awards on June 25 at the second-annual award show.
Richardson said late in the season he was braced for an All-Defensive omission.
“I think it would be awesome but I’m not going to be bent out of shape if I don’t,” he said. “I know how those things go sometimes. I’m not too worried about it. I think I’m a top-10 defender in this league. I know in my own head.”